Clipboard databases

listContents

Materials and document links
Phase 1: Create room reservation database on clipboards!
Reverse engineering databases from query building forms

wb_incandescentIntroduction

To master the fundamental concepts of database design, we must decouple the complexities of database software from the principles of data organization into tables related to one another with foreign keys. We'll use a novel approach of creating a database on a set of 6x9 clip boards which are tactile, portable, and highly representative of how computer software implements database principles.

wb_incandescentMaterials

Secure the following supplies:

• 4 - 6x9 Clipboards
• 3 - table design organizer sheets [pdf | editable open doc] (one for each clipboard)
• 3 - primary key flags (pink) and at least 4 foreign key flags (green) for each clipboard [pdf | editable open doc]
• 8 - small binder clips for attaching string to the clipboards
• 6 - lengths of string about 1-foot long each, for connecting tables through their keys
• 1 - database design organizer sheet [pdf | editable open doc]

Sample room reservation database

Sample person table design and data view

Sample room table design and data view

Sample reservation table design and data view

Strings create foreign key relationships